A Mitchell man who suffered life-threatening injuries as a passenger in a car crash last year near Mitchell has filed a lawsuit against the driver.
Kaleb M. Puetz alleges Christopher L. Nicolaisen's negligent driving caused a single-vehicle crash shortly after midnight on May 4, 2011, on Spruce Street east of Mitchell.
According to court documents and a report published May 5, 2011, in The Daily Republic, the incident occurred when Nicolaisen, of Mount Vernon, lost control of his vehicle on a sharp curve, causing it to leave the road, roll over and eventually crash into a tree. Another passenger, Alexis Vandeberg, was also injured in the crash. All three occupants were wearing seat belts.
In a complaint filed May 7 with the Davison County Clerk of Courts, Puetz claims Nicolaisen caused the crash by driving at an "inappropriate speed," failing to stay on the road and failing to "take heed of the road conditions."
Puetz is seeking damages for "pain, suffering and emotional distress," medical expenses and legal fees, the complaint states. No specific dollar amount of compensation is referenced in the complaint, as it only states damages will be "in an amount to be determined at trial." Puetz is represented by attorneys Jody Odegaard Smith and Timothy G. Bottum, of the Mitchell-based law firm Morgan Theeler.
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Court documents show Nicolaisen was served with the complaint May 1. He is required to file an answer to the complaint within 30 days of service.
